Amusement device



July 1, 1947. AUS N I 2,423,283

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed A ril 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v IN VEN TOR BY rm HAROLD T. AUSTIN ATTORNE Y July 1, 1947. H. T. AUSTIN v AMU SEMENT DEVICE Filed April 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAROLD T. AUSTIN IIVVENI'OR (71 ATTORNEY latented July 1 1 947 M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,423,283, AMUSEMENT Device Harold T. Austin, Seattle, Wash. Application April 3, 1944, Serial No. 529,301

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices and, in more particular, to an amusement device somewhat on the order of a ferris wheel.

Ferris wheels are one of the oldest of the amusement devices for use in public places and take their shape and operation from the old and ordinary lawn swing. With present day modes of transportation, amusement devices of the present era should be in order. New styles and new modes of operation are needed.

Having in mind these needs, it is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which will tend to simulate the flight of an airplane, and whose operation in its path of travel may be somewhat controlled by a passenger in the device.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an amusement device whose path of travel may be in at least two degrees of freedom, one of which degrees may be controlled by a passenger.

Anothe object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device similar to a ferris wheel, yet, which is more streamlined and in which each individual car may have some of its motion independently controlled by the rider in the car.

The defects of the prior art are remedied and the above mentioned objects are obtained by means of a wheel which is mounted for rotation in a plane vertical to the earth's surface at a fixed point. This wheel has, located centrically thereof at or adjacent the circumference, elongated cars, each of which may hold one or more persons. These cars are located in tandem with their longitudinal axes tangential to the circumference of the Wheel. Each car hasa shape somewhat simulating that of an airplane. Interiorly, each car has a wheel or other suitable means for controlling rotation of the car normal to the plane of the primary wheel. Such a construction allows the cars to wheel about on an axis in a curved path and each of said cars also may rotate on its individual longitudinal axis.

A device such as that described above is more completely shown in the accompanying drawings described in detail hereinafter, in which:

Figure l is an elevational side view of a wheel embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1 on the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of one 4 Claims. (Cl. 27236) of the cars showing its mounting mechanism and meansfor controlling the rotation of the car;

Figure 4 is a, sectional detail view of the tail bearing of a car;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure '3; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure'4r.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a wheel support comprising A-frames Hi, H, which support at their upper end the wheel shaft l2 which carries the wheel l3. This wheel comprises the hub l4 and flanges l5, l6. Secured to these side flanges areradial rods or other structural members I! which form the Spokes oi the wheel.

Centrically located at the end of the spokes are elongated passenger carrying cars l8. An end of each car is adjacent the end of another car and all of the cars together form a more or less toroidal shape. Each car is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, which is such that its axis of rotation will approximately pass through the center of gravity of each car when such car is loaded with passengers. Between adjacent cars there is arranged a car bearing head l9 which is secured to the ends of the spokes I1 to form a cap therefor.

Rotation of the wheel is had by means of a motor M and suitable gearing 20.

The construction of the car bearing head l9 and the'details of the car are more clearly shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. The spokes H of the wheel are secured to the bearing head I9 by any suitable means such as welding. Secured in each end of the bearing head is a'shaft, 2|, 22. Each of these shafts is provided with a groove 23 or 24, in which is placed retaining fingers 25 secured to the bearing head 19 to retain the same but permit rotation of the shaft in the head I9, where it is free to rotate. Suitable lubrication is provided for that, purpose.

The outer ends of the shafts 2|, 22 fit in sleeves 25, 21, respectively, provided at each end of the car. The shafts are fixed in these sleeves by means of set screws 28, 29. By means of this mounting, all of the cars 18 are locked to ether to form a toroidal structure.

Inside of each car I8 there may be provided one or more seats 30 for the convenience of the passengers. Over the top of the car there is arranged an easily removable guard shield 3| made out of suitable wire netting. Adjacent the front seat there is arranged a control handle 32, or crank, which is mounted on a control shaft 33 which extends forwardly therefrom to the exterior of the car body. The outer end of the control shaft 33 carries a pinion 34 which meshes with a gear 35 rigidly secured to the adjacent end of the bearing head l9. Rotation of the handle 32 causes the car l8 and its shafts 2|, 22 to revolve in the bearing head l9.

Control shaft 33 may be locked against rotation by passing therethrough a locking pin 36 which also passesthrough a suitable opening in a shaft bearing mounted on-the-forward end of the car. This locking means is for the purpose of holding the car in position while passengers are being loaded or unloaded. Pin 36 is carried by a snap arm 38 mounted on a pivot 39, which arm is held in place through the action: of: a. spring 40 which retains the pin 36in either the,

open or locked position by reason of its disaligned coupling between the snap arm 3,8?an'da Din 4| in the car sleeve 26.

In the operation of my device, after the above described mechanismshave-been assembled, each car'isin turn brought to the bottom position on the wheel and passengers are placed therein. Allv or as: many ofthecars as desired are filled,v the motor is then put into continuous operation and the wheel rotates carrying the cars in a circular path about the axis of the shaft l2. It will be seen that if there is no rotation of the car I8 on. its shafts 2|, 22, the effect will be that of a loop-the-loop-in airplane flight. and the passengers will-travel. an insidepath at the top of which they are suspended upside down. Suchfprevails wherethe cars are locked through the action of the locking pin 36 in the shaft bearing 31 and the'controlshaft 33.

Onthe other hand, when thecar isfree to m tate about itslongitudinal axis a passenger may produce such rotation during travel of the car initscircular pathby employing elements 32, 33, 34, 3,5. A. passenger grasps the control handle 32 and. twists it toturn-the shaft 33-and its. pinion 34. This. actionv will cause, through the movementof the pinion 34. about the gear 35, the rotationof the car It! on its longitudinal axis, and it will be, apparent that the whole axial rotation of a car can be at the whim of, a passenger.

While I have shownv and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will occur to, those skilled in the art. thatv variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing. fromtheinvention, and I,, therefore, aimin the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the. true spirit and scope of my invention.

Havingthus described my invention, 1 claim:

their longitudinal axes lying on chords of said wheel, means adapting each car for rotation about its longitudinal axis in the plane of said wheel, and mean inside of each car for controlling the rotation thereof,

2. An amusement device, comprising: a wheel having centrically located person-carrying cars, each of said cars having means adapting it for rotation about its longitudinal axis in a chord of-saidwheel, means located ineach car for controlling the said rotation thereof, and. means for mounting said wheel so that its plane will be. vertical with respect to the earths surface and so that it will rotate on a fixed horizontal 5 1.. In an amusement device, comprising: means forming a wheel, person-carrying cars having axis.

the wheelandlocated inside of each of said cars. for controlling said rotation of each car; and.

means for obtaining rotation of saidwheel in a plane vertical t0 the earths surface and about a fixed horizontal axis.

4. An amusement device, comprising a pair of pedestals spaced apart from each other, a shaft supported on the upper ends of said pedestals, a wheel supported on saidshaft for rotation thereof, said wheel having radial spokes, bearing heads at the outer ends of said spokes, a

plurality of centrically located person-carrying cars arranged about the axis, of said wheel, the end of one car being adjacent the end-of another car and being rotatable in said bearing heads at the ends of saidspokes; passenger seating means in each car, a handleineach car connecting with said bearing head whereby each car. may be rotated on its longitudinal axis, and means for rotating said wheel.

HAROLD T. AUSTINi REFERENCES CITED The followingv references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

2,046,678 Eyerly July 7 193.6 2,101,274. Stanzel ,Dec. 7, 1937 2,158,073 Keith etal May 16., 1939' 2,203,971 Shepherd June 1-1, 19.40 

